1967 - 2nd World Professional Trampoline Championships, Addison, Illinois

As part of a Nissen Corporation promotion, the second World Professional Trampoline Championship was held at Addison Trail High School, Addison (Chicago), Illinois, on Saturday, February 4, 1967. (Note: a miss-print on the program lists the date as 1-28-67)

Returning to defend his crown was George Hery, winner of the 1st World Professional TrampolineChampionships (1964), Grossinger’s Resort, New York. Rounding out the competitors at this year's event were: Ed Cole, Gary Erwin, John Hamilton, Ron Munn, Fred Saunders, Brent Williams and Pat Winkle. 

Gary Erwin, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Jr. National AAU Champion - 1961, Midwest Open Champion - 1961,62,63 & 64,
Big Ten Co-Champion - 1964, Big Ten Champion - 1965, NCAA Champion - 1963,
World Amateur Runnerup - 1964, World Amateur Champion - 1965,
1965 World Pro Trampoline Ranking - 4

George Hery, Framingham, Massachusetts
1964 World Professional Trampoline Champion

Brent Williams, Carbondale, Illinois
Member of the 1966 NCAA Championship Men's
Gymnastics Team, Southern Illinois University

John Hamilton, Louisville, Kentucky
SW AAU Trampoline Champion - 1959,
Big Ten Trampoline Co-Champion - 1964,
NCAA Trampoline Runnerup - 1964,
1965 World Pro Trampoline Ranking - 8 

Ron Munn, Amarillo, Texas
National AAU Champion - 1956 & 1959,
Pan American Games Champion - 1959,
Midwest Open Champion - 1959,
1965 World Pro Trampoline Ranking - 3

Pat Winkle, London, England
British Amateur Trampoline Champion - 1960,
1965 World Pro Trampoline Ranking - 7

Fred Saunders, Tucson, Arizona
Big Ten Champion - 1963, NCAA Runnerup - 1963,
Big Ten Runnerup - 1965, World Pro Ranking - 6

Ed Cole, Evanston, Illinois
Big Ten Champion - 1967, 68,  69, NCAA Champion - 1959,
World Professional Diving Champion - 1965,
Eight Appearances on CBS Sports Spectacular,
1965 World Pro Trampoline Ranking - 5

Sponsored jointly by the Illinois Gymnastics Coaches Association and the Nissen Corporation, the meet featured match competition in the form of a double elimination tournament. The athletes competed in pairs, performing an optional routine, no score or mark was assigned and the judges decided which of the two performers presented the better overall routine.

Mid-way through the competition Doris Fuchs Brause, (1964 USA Olympic team member) performed a demonstration routine on the uneven parallel bars. At the Dortmund World Games held in 1966, Doris had been the center of controversy as her uneven parallel bar routine was so flawless the crowd disagreed with the judge’s final score and held up the meet for an hour with catcalls.

In addition, the capacity crowd of 3,500 was treated to a Spaceball competition pitting the USA against Great Britain.

George Nissen, President of the Nissen Corporation congratulated the event winners: First place - Gary Erwin, second place - George Hery, third place - Ron Munn and fourth place - John Hamilton.

George Nissen and the winners of the 1967 Professional Trampoline Championships
L-R: Gary Erwin, George Hery, Ron Munn, John Hamilton. 

This 20-minute film was commissioned by the Nissen Corporation and used to help promote the sports of gymnastics and trampoline world-wide. Note to viewers: the film’s narrator is Bob Brooks, long-time sports reporter for KCRG-TV, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, who with the assistance of George Hery and Gary Erwin added a comedy interview bit to their final routines. (Found at the 15.35 mark)

NOTICE: Due to technical issues with the original film 

you will need to increase the volume on your viewing device

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George Hery and Doris Fuchs Brause preview the final film at the Nissen Corporation. (1967)

LINK to the 1964 1st World Pro Trampoline Championships

1960 - 1st International Trampoline Competition: USA - Switzerland - Germany

- Trampoline History -

Did you know... 

     The first competition in which American trampolinists bounced against their European counterparts was held on April 23, 1960, in Freiberg im Breisgau, Germany.

     Prior to 1960, outside of America, the sport of trampoline was still in its infancy; individual European countries were holding their very first nation-wide competitions. The largest being the Swiss based Nissen-Eterna Cup. Inaugurated in 1958, it attracted over 50 bouncers.

     During January of 1960, England pushed the sport forward by hosting the first "inter-nation" competition, pitting bouncers from England against those from Wales.

     Meanwhile, following American trampolinist's domination of both the 1954 and 1959 Pan American Games, the American athletes were eager to travel abroad to test their skills against the new European bouncers.

USA Team: Chuck Clarkson, Ron Munn, Charles Bates, Ed Cole, Ann Coleman, Barbara Gallegher

     In April of 1960, the Nissen Company in partnership with the Witwatersrand Agricultural Society, sponsored a team of six American trampolinists to South Africa. The highlight of their 42-day tour was performing at the Annual Rand Agricultural Show in Johannesburg.

    Upon completion of the tour, the team was invited to both Germany and Switzerland to conduct demonstrations, clinics, and - - to participate in the first international trampoline competition - - between American, Swiss, and German athletes.  

 

       Competition Score Card:

Competition Score Card

                     

Competitors: Men

Competitors: Women

Watch the video!

                                           

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Ron Munn, who won the competition shared his memories of the event:

"Although the level of ability by the Europeans was not quite that of the Americans, the competition was both friendly and significant. It represented the start of future international competitions that today encompass countries throughout the entire world...and has grown to include the Olympics."

And that's the story behind the

First International Trampoline Competition:

U.S.A - Switzerland -Germany

1960

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